Education has become a 'tick-box exercise' and is 'too exam-focused', headteachers will be told today.

Philip Cottam, chairman of the Society of Heads of Independent Schools (SHMIS), will say the modern system reinforces pressure to 'teach to the test' and leaves little room for 'flair, imagination and adventure'.

In his opening speech to the SHMIS annual conference, Mr Cottam will propose that a 'league table-dominated curriculum' has fostered a 'narrow, utilitarian approach to education'.

No imagination: Philip Cottam, chairman of the Society of Heads of Independent Schools claims the modern education system reinforces pressure to 'teach to the test' and leaves little room for 'flair, imagination and adventure'

He will tell headteachers: 'One of the consequences, albeit unintended, of our current system is that education at secondary level has become too utilitarian and too exam-focused with the result that it is far more difficult to engender a sense of intellectual excitement and adventure and to encourage one's pupils to take intellectual risks.

'With the examination period taking up more and more of the summer term, and with modules each January as well, there is increasing pressure on teachers just to finish the syllabus, let alone to take time out, every so often, to study something of importance but not directly related to the actual exam.'

Modern exam specifications and exams are also 'much more structured and far less open-ended' than they used to be, he will say, adding: 'Sadly, there is, in consequence, less room for flair, imagination and adventure.'

Keynote speaker: 'Free School' advocate Toby Young is to address the Society of Heads of Independent Schools conference in Telford

During the wide-ranging speech, to be made in Telford he will hit out at the 'culture of entitlement' in which competition is seen as a negative and 'all are expected to win prizes'.

He will also warn of the potential repercussions of a system which gives few rewards for originality.

'Pupils have become... utilitarian in their approach. 'If it isn't in the exam, why do I need to know about it?' is not an uncommon refrain,' he will say.

'I believe that the impact of this goes wider than just making education too much of a tick-box exercise. It also influences attitudes of mind and approaches to life.'

Mr Cottam, head of Halliford School in Shepperton, Middlesex, is expected to address Government proposals to increase the number of poorer students at university.

These rely on a 'mechanistic template' and discriminate unfairly against independent school pupils, he will say.

Keynote speakers at the SHMIS conference are to include journalist and 'free schools' advocate Toby Young.